Politics

Narrandera Shire Council has re-elected its Mayor Neville Kschenka but elected a new deputy to replace Cr Cameron Lander at its meeting on Tuesday afternoon … A ballot was conducted for the deputy mayor and resulted in a tie 4-all so the hat was brought out and Cr Sue Ruffles was declared the successful candidate.

Post bushfire recovery, agriculture remains a priority for UMI and the Agricultural Recovery Working Group has now become focused on areas identified in the Upper Murray 2030 Vision Plan. Diversity enables resilience and the vulnerability of farmers relying solely on the stability of standard beef or milk prices is a catalyst for this group to investigate what options are worth exploring.

A new handbook released by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, will guide businesses – including farmers, forest growers, mining companies and non-governmental organisations – on how to report and account for their natural assets to better protect our environment. Much of the value and growth from our economy is drawn from natural resources as a variety of industries depend on, and profit, from them.

The National Management Group (NMG), of which Melons Australia represents industry on, confirmed at its meeting on 19 September 2023 that eradication of Varroa destructor (varroa mite) is no longer feasible based on technical grounds, following advice from the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP). The response will now enter a transition to management phase.

In a major boost for domestic tourism,  Bonza  has revealed Darwin and Alice Springs as the airline’s newest destinations. The airline will add 12 new flights per week to and from the NT with three new routes - Sunshine Coast to Darwin, Gold Coast to Darwin and Melbourne to Alice Springs.

The Clarence Valley timber industry is still uncertain how many jobs could be lost due to the suspension of logging in the proposed Great Koala National Park as the NSW Government assesses the impact on the endangered marsupials and timber industry jobs ... “They still haven’t actually said what the areas are that they are going to not harvest in and where the actual koala hubs are, so it’s really hard to work out what the ramifications are going to be”: Donna Layton, Marshall Notaras Hardwoods GM and VP of Timber NSW.

The proposed redevelopment of the historic Grafton Brewery is in doubt after council posed over 100 conditions on the business including restrictive operating hours ... But Mr Firth said the development may never be realised due to the onerous and duplicitous requirements that make the development potentially unworkable.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt officially opened the eight kilometre extension of Bells Creek Arterial Road, completing the 11.9km link between the Bruce Highway and Caloundra Road.

Ten of the nation's leading agricultural research organisations are pooling their powers to bolster on-farm adoption of research outcomes and returns to farmers ... Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Fifield said it was crucial for agricultural research organisations to collaborate on cross-industry priorities such as research adoption.

Yorke Peninsula Council has isolated two sites on southern Yorke Peninsula after material containing asbestos was found at an unsanctioned Marion Bay dump ... The Marion Bay site has been used as an undocumented and unapproved community dumping area for decades, a practice dating back to before smaller councils amalgamated to form YPC in 1997.

Gamblers playing the pokies in Alice Springs clubs and pubs lost almost $14m in 2022-23. This doesn’t include the poker machines in Lasseters Casino whose data “cannot be provided due to commercial-in-confidence,” according to the  Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. That is clearly a huge multiple of the disclosed figure.

Young car joyriders likened the adrenalin rush from car theft to the effects of drug or alcohol use. Some noted, yet often disregarded, fears of death or injury as the result of a car accident. And the prospect of gaining, or losing, a job is a stronger motivator than incarceration for joyriders.

The NRLX-agent dispute will be a big topic at the Richmond Valley Council meeting at 6pm, Tuesday, September 19. The Casino Auctioneers Association Incorporated (CAAI) released a statement about the council meeting.

A concept design to extend the dual carriageway of Wanneroo Rd to include the Pipidinny Rd intersection has been completed, according to Main Roads WA. “Main Roads completed a concept design for the extension of the dual carriageway of  Wanneroo Rd just south of Bernard Rd North to just north of Pipidinny Rd in 2021 however, this is not currently funded for construction,’’ a Main Roads spokesperson said.

Claims that prescribed burning will not assist with wildfire control are spurious. ... The EPA report on their review of the FMP failed to mention that a West Australian Parliamentary Committee, after hearing multiple evidence, recently concluded that an additional review of prescribed burning practices by Government was NOT warranted. This is a blatant and serious omission.

Prior to the Authority meeting, members had a very constructive visit to the Upper Murrumbidgee and were briefed on issues affecting the river ... The Authority also met with the First Nations Leadership Group who had travelled from Country to meet in Canberra. There was a constructive discussion on how to establish long-term productive relationships.

Enjoy live music, food and drink and brightly lit displays of the tulips which offer a wonderfully different perspective to the day time tulip time garden display ... It’s a lovely community vibe which will also have a number of visitors to the Southern Highlands region due to the Festival being held over the long weekend.